I was wondering why Cure Sky’s design felt a little familiar, and it was only when someone joked that she was a Snow Miku that I realized…
Her hairstyle being pigtails and having a gradient from blue to pink kind of reminds me of Yan Keke, from Balala the Fairies: Magic Star Fate Castle. 😆
I mean, they’ve got the gradient from blue to pink in the hair, the pigtails, the straight bangs (that even vary in style across the whole shape), the things on the top of the head (wings vs cat ears), the bared shoulders even with sleeves, the yellow/gold heels on their boots, the bow(s) at the waist, the heart on their collar accessory…
There is also the fact that this is the first time we’re getting a leader that’s not a pink Cure (or isn’t equated to pink, the way Cure Black sometimes is)—and is also a blue Cure. Balala the Fairies has been known for having non-pink leaders before, as seen with the yellow lead Shirley (Xiao Lan)’s prominence in the early seasons up to Finding Melody, but also with Azure (Na Xiya), who was the blue lead in Ocean Magic.
Don’t get me wrong though!! Even if I find the parallels amusing, I’m not dunking on Precure or anything lol. I’ve just personally found it fun how the latest Precure seasons constantly have reminded me of Balala the Fairies in some way, which is just like…a little fun detail I enjoy as a fan of both ahaha.
For example, Tropical Rouge Precure does vaguely remind me of Balala the Fairies: Ocean Magic, if only because their themes are both island-esque. I guess the different coloured strips of hair (and gradients) and the purposefully multi-coloured eyes—with Ocean Magic featuring stars while Tropical Rouge features hearts in the eyes—also help make the parallel a bit more evident, although the designs aren’t necessarily that similar overall.
And of course Healin’ Good Precure’s Cure Sparkle is actually quite similar to Amy (Yin Xiaomin) from Balala the Fairies: Over the Rainbow…and this similarity does have me raising an eyebrow more, if only because the coincidences in design here are way more obvious. 😂
I know a lot of people joked about Precure taking design ideas from Balala back then, which is a fun turnaround considering Balala’s first few seasons started by being inspired by magical girls shows (and specifically Precure) lol.
I actually did wonder if Precure was—as some anime recently have—focusing a bit on the Chinese market, what with Cure Yum-Yum’s introduction, which is obviously Chinese-themed. I mean, it does make sense to introduce a Chinese-themed Cure for the season about food, although I did find it kind of funny since Cure Precious is Japanese-themed, Cure Yum-Yum is Chinese-themed, and then I guess…Cure Spicy is western-themed because…bread? It makes her category feel a little more underrepresented though ahaha.
I actually really like Cure Yum-Yum’s design despite my slight griping about her falling into many of the Japanese anime tropes about what makes an outfit/character visibly Chinese (the hair ornament-like buns that are reminiscent of buns, the qipao-inspired dress, and…well, it’s not in Cure Yum-Yum’s design but is in her family’s restaurant: the excessive amounts of pandas). At least they didn’t pull a Shaman King and slap a panda right on her chest slfjskdjs.
Despite containing a visible reference to China, Delicious Party Precure’s designs don’t remind me as much of Balala the Fairies… Although if I had to force a parallel, maybe I’d draw one with Finding Melody? I think it’s just because Cure Precious’ pigtails along with the rest of her hair being down reminds me of Michelle Lin (Lin Meixue), the pink character for that season…plus the big heart being in the centre of the bow tie at their chest, along with some of the ruffles on their sleeves and skirt, and even with their flower-shaped hair accessories holding the pigtails in place along with a headband, and finally with their skirt’s shape opening to reveal an underskirt. 😆
Final note though: I make these comparisons all in good fun! Especially since magical girl designs will obviously cycle through similar design choices and elements and tropes, so don’t think of this as a diss. I like both series and as an overall donghua fan I can’t help but insert my fascination with donghua wherever I go, and I haven’t been able to help making such parallels since the Cure Sparkle comparison to Amy (Yin Xiaomin) all those years ago ahaha.
Anyway, I’m actually quite excited for Hirogaru Sky Precure!! I haven’t posted about Precure in quite some time (not since Hugtto), but I do enjoy the fandom from the periphery now and I get hyped for every season’s new designs. I was especially hooked by Cure Yum-Yum’s design for Delicious Party, although I did hear that that season was rather lacklustre, so I look forward to Hirogaru, since it seems like they’re pulling out all the stops for the series’ 20th anniversary. 👀
I mean, after all these years of asking, we’re finally getting a boy Cure!! I do still think Rio and Henri were kind of robbed of that chance in Kirakira and Hugtto respectively, although I understand the need for baby steps. But seriously, Rio would have worked so well as Cure Waffle…
And hey, at least this means we’ll see Cure Wing get a proper transformation sequence!! To bring this post back since I got sidetracked here, this kind of reminds me of my excitement over Prince Noah (Youle-wangzi) from Balala the Fairies: Finding Melody, who also got his own transformation sequence!
I guess even Cure Butterfly’s role as the older one in the group (being the first Cure to be 18—although I do agree she seems younger than the previously established 17-year-old Cures) can be considered reminiscent of Shirley (Xiao Lan)’s role as the older member of the Balala the Fairies team for multiple seasons, since she’s 19-years-old—physically anyway, as it is hinted she and Noah (Youle) could be actually around 100.
^ (Bonus Note: The above shot is still my favourite [from the Finding Melody OP] because like…all they did was touch hands while grabbing popcorn but then they react like this… It still cracks me up that Noah (Youle) is drawn “like a shy girl” here bwahaha. But yeah, he and Shirley (Xiao Lan) did make for a cute ship. ^^)
Alright, to wrap this up, here’s to a new good season of Precure! I’m looking forward to it~ And of course, a happy 20th anniversary to these badass girls (and now one boy)! 🥂